Malignant neoplasms (cancers) and ischaemic heart disease were the leading causes of death for Tasmanians in 2003, accounting for 1,080 and 748 deaths respectively.
Malignant neoplasms were responsible for 30.2% of male deaths and 24.1% of female deaths.
Diseases of the circulatory system, which include ischaemic heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases, brought about the deaths of 1,373 persons in 2003, accounting for 34.6% of deaths recorded that year. Some 32.1% of male deaths (652) and 37.3% of female deaths (721) were attributable to these diseases.
Deaths from cerebrovascular diseases (including strokes) were more common for females than males, resulting in 159 female deaths (8.2% of female deaths), compared to 119 male deaths (5.9% of male deaths) in 2003.
Diseases of the respiratory system accounted for 341 deaths in 2003. There were 181 male (8.9% of males) and 160 female (8.3% of females) deaths from diseases of the respiratory system.
There were 69 deaths (1.7% of all deaths) attributed to intentional self-harm (suicide) in Tasmania in 2003. Of these, 54 (78%) were males and 15 (22%) were females. Males aged from 25-44 years accounted for 34.8% of all deaths from intentional self-harm, with 24 deaths.
There were 53 deaths (1.3% of all deaths) from transport accidents in Tasmania in 2003. Of these, 46 (86.8%) were males and 7 (13.2%) were females. Males aged from 25-44 years accounted for 34.0% of all deaths from transport accidents in 2003, with 18 deaths.
There were 158 deaths (4.0% of all deaths) from diabetes mellitus in Tasmania in 2003. Of these, 85 (53.8%) were males and 73 (46.2%) were females. People aged 75 years and over accounted for 70.3% of all deaths from diabetes mellitus, with 111 deaths.

UNDERLYING CAUSE OF DEATH, Tasmania - 2003

Males

Females

Total

Cause of death

no.

no.

no.

Mental and behavioural disorders

37

66

103

Diseases of the nervous system

58

100

158

Diseases of the respiratory system

181

160

341

Diseases of the digestive system

73

77

150

Diseases of the genitourinary system

38

48

86

Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases

114

98

212

- Diabetes mellitus

85

73

158

Neoplasms

634

487

1,121

- Malignant neoplasms

613

467

1,080

Diseases of the circulatory system

652

721

1,373

- Ischaemic heart diseases

377

371

748

- Cerebrovascular diseases

119

159

278

External causes of morbidity and mortality

154

71

225

- Transport accidents

46

7

53

- Intentional self-harm

54

15

69

Other causes of death (a)

89

107

196

Total

2,030

1,935

3,965

(a) Includes certain infectious and parasitic diseases; diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism; diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue; symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified; diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue; certain conditions originating in the perinatal period; congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities; pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium.
Source: Causes of Death, Australia (cat. no. 3303.0).

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